Lesson 1.1 Counting Objects to 5

Steps

1. Warm-up

   Do this: Ask these out loud. Your child answers out loud; no paper needed.

   • Ask: “What number comes just after 5?” Listen for: 6
   • Ask: “What number comes just after 3?” Listen for: 4
   • Ask: “What number comes just after 2?” Listen for: 3
   • Ask: “What number comes just after 4?” Listen for: 5
   • Ask: “What number comes just after 1?” Listen for: 2
2. Teach the new idea

   Say this: “When we count, we say one number for each thing and touch each thing only once.”

   Say this: “The last number we say tells how many there are.”

   Say this: “Count: to say numbers in order, one for each thing.”

3. Show how

   Show: How many? Count and write the number.

   

   Say this: “Touch each one and count: 1, 2, 3.”

   Answer: 3

   Show: How many? Count and write the number.

   

   Say this: “Touch each one and count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.”

   Answer: 5

4. Practice together

   Do this: Your child does these with you. Let them try first; help only after a real try.

   Ask: How many? Count and write the number.

   

   Listen for: 2

   If stuck: Touch each one and count: 1, 2.

   Ask: How many? Count and write the number.

   

   Listen for: 1

   If stuck: Touch each one and count: 1.

   Ask: How many? Count and write the number.

   

   Listen for: 3

   If stuck: Touch each one and count: 1, 2, 3.

   7 more practice items on the lesson page, and on Worksheet A and Worksheet B.

5. Watch for
   • Skipping an object or touching one twice. Line the objects up and move each one as you count it.
6. Game: Bean Count

   Put out 1 to 5 dried beans. Your child closes their eyes while you take some away, then says how many are left and how many you took. Swap roles.

7. Narration

   Say this: “Tell me what you learned today. Show me with your hands or the counters if you like.”

   Listen for: Count up to 5 objects.; Say one number for each object.

8. Scripture

   He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.

   God knows every star by number and by name. Counting carefully is one small way we notice His world.

9. Daily habit

   Count aloud from 1 to 10 and back from 10 to 1 every day, touching your fingers as you go.

Spread over the week

5 sessions of 15–20 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.

1. Session 1. Warm-up, then teach the new idea (steps 1 and 2).
2. Session 2. Warm-up again, then show how with the examples.
3. Session 3. Practice together, then play the game.
4. Session 4. More practice on the worksheet, and the daily habit.
5. Session 5. Quick check: narration and a few practice items. Move on when it is mostly right.